Tough week for people who preferred the alternative halftime show.
America’s most topsy-turvy team is officially on another tear! The Flying Dutchmen opened the key southern road swing Thursday night by taking a double-digit lead early in the second half and hanging on to beat Charleston, 66-62.
As will hopefully remain the case for the rest of the season however long it lasts, here’s the Keep It Perky featuring the usual postgame boilerplate material. The individual news and notes from the win over the Cougars and a preview of UNC Wilmington will be posted overnight. Enjoy! (Again)
THE MOST RECENT GAME SUMMARIZED IN ONE PARAGRAPH
German Plotnikov (a season-high 20 points) started off red-hot and Cruz Davis (a game-high 23 points) was the finisher on a milestone night as the Dutchmen solidified their bid for the double bye. The Dutchmen held a pair of four-point leads in the first eight minutes before going scoreless for more than four minutes, a span in which Charleston went ahead 20-17 but missed a chance to extend the lead by enduring five straight empty trips. A Plotnikov 3-pointer evened the score FRIDAY NIGHT NEWS MAGAZINE BIAS to spark a half-ending 20-10 run by the Dutchmen, who scored the final six points before intermission. Silas Sunday’s putback lengthened the lead to 44-33 with 15:20 left before the Cougars scored seven straight points to open a 9-1 run. Plotnikov, Biggie Patterson and Davis combined for seven consecutive points, after which Charleston mounted aa 15-7 surge to pull within 59-57 on Colby Duggan’s 3-pointer with 4:19 left. The teams combined for four straight empty trips, the last of which ended with Charleston’s Chris Davis Jr. missing a potential go-head 3-pointer, before Davis went into takeover mode by hitting a layup with 1:47 remaining. Jlynn Counter drained a pair of free throws before Davis hit another contested layup with 35 seconds left. Counter and Chris Davis Jr. missed shots on Charleston’s next trip and Cruz Davis iced the win by going 3-of-4 from the line. Cruz Davis scored the Dutchmen’s final seven points and 15 of his 23 points in the second half, including his 1,000th point at Hofstra via a free throw with 7:24 left. He also had six rebounds and four assists. Plotnikov was 6-of-13 from beyond the arc while adding five rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist. Silas Sunday had seven points and nine rebounds over 31 minutes while Patterson (nine points, eight rebounds) also flirted with a double-double. Preston Edmead scored a season-low five points on 1-of-9 shooting, including 0-of-7 from 3-point land, but added seven rebounds and four assists.
3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Charleston, 2/12)
3: Cruz Davis
2: German Plotnikov
1: Silas Sunday
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 58
Preston Edmead 41
Biggie Patterson 18
German Plotnikov 9
Silas Sunday 8
Joshua DeCady 7
Victory Onuetu 6
Joshua Aaron Reaves 3
Jaeden Roberts 3
A.J. Wills 2
Alex Tsynkevich 1
WAS THIS A UNICORN SCORE?
No! But in a fun bit of quirkiness, this was the Dutchmen’s first 66-62 victory since Jan. 21, 1997, when they beat Towson State (which really WAS called Towson State back then) in Maryland. These Dutchmen completed the rare regular season unicorn score sweep of Towson (not a State) last Saturday. Quirky!
The Dutchmen have recorded four unicorn score victories this season and 64 unicorn score victories since the start of the 2018-19 season, when we first started tracking unicorn scores.
2025-26: Four unicorn scores
2024-25: Seven unicorn scores
2023-24: Seven unicorn scores
2022-23: 12 unicorn scores
2021-22: 11 unicorn scores
2020-21: Zero unicorn scores (really)
2019-20: 13 unicorn scores
2018-19: 10 unicorn scores
The term unicorn score was coined by Mets superfan, historian and blogger Greg Prince to describe a score by which the Mets had never previously won. You may also know it as a “Scorigami,” a term popularized in the NFL.
WHO HAD THE KEITH HERNANDEZ?
Biggie Patterson ensured it wouldn’t be a dual milestone night for Cruz Davis by hitting the tie-breaking jumper that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good at 24-22 with 6:44 left in the first half. Patterson’s Keith Hernandez snapped Davis’ streak of Keith Hernandezes at three, which tied him with Darlinstone Dubar for the all-time record (at least since 2022-23). Patterson’s tie-breaking basket also made it two straight games in which the Dutchmen recorded the Keith Hernandez on a 2-point field goal after their first 13 Keith Hernandez field goals this season were collected via either a 3-pointer or a nostalgic 3-point play.
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Molloy, 11/10/25 (18:47 left 1H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Bucknell, 11/14/25 (13:30 left 2H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking free throw vs. La Salle, 11/28/25 (1:35 left 2H)
Preston Edmead tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Merrimack, 11/29/25 (15:25 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pennsylvania, 11/30/25 (18:03 left 2H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Pittsburgh, 12/7/25 (8:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking free throw vs. Old Westbury, 12/10/25 (19:50 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Syracuse, 12/13/25 (:31.9 left 2H)
Cruz Davis nostalgic 3-point play vs. Quinnipiac, 12/21/25 (3:54 left 2H)
Preston Edmead go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Campbell, 12/29/25 (12:05 left 1H)
German Plotnikov tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Drexel, 1/3/26 (18:27 left 1H)
German Plotnikov go-ahead 3-pointer vs. Towson, 1/8/26 (3:33 left 1H)
A.J. Wills tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/10/26 (4:31 left OT)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Monmouth, 1/31/26 (19:50 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking 3-pointer vs. Northeastern, 2/5/26 (12:38 left 1H)
Cruz Davis tie-breaking jumper vs. Towson, 2/7/26 (16:21 left 1H)
Biggie Patterson tie-breaking jumper vs. Charleston, 2/12/26 (6:44 left 1H)
SEASON STANDINGS
Cruz Davis 6
German Plotnikov 4
Biggie Patterson 3
Preston Edmead 3
A.J. Wills 1
ALL-TIME STANDINGS (or at least since the 2022-23 season)
Tyler Thomas 16
Darlinstone Dubar 14
Cruz Davis 9
German Plotnikov 7
Jean Aranguren 5
Aaron Estrada 4
Biggie Patterson 3
Preston Edmead 3
Michael Graham 3
Warren Williams 3
Silas Sunday 2
Jacco Fritz 2
Jaquan Carlos 2
A.J. Wills 1
Eric Parnell 1
KiJan Robinson 1
Bryce Washington 1
The Keith Hernandez is bestowed upon the player who scores the points that put the Dutchmen ahead for good in a victory. The stat pays homage to Hernandez, the World Series-winning Cardinals and Mets first baseman who had a record 129 game-winning RBIs when the stat was inexplicably discontinued after the 1988 season.
THE FLYING DUTCHMEN AFTER TWENTY-SIX GAMES
The Dutchmen improved to 17-9 with Thursday night’s win. This ties the 2025-26 team for the 23rd-best record in school history through 26 games. Quirky: Due to six seasons ending with the 25th game, these Dutchmen are actually lower on the all-time list through 26 games than they were through 25 games (tied for the 22nd-best record of all-time at 16-9). This is the first time the Dutchmen have opened 17-9 since 2021-22 and the fifth time overall in program history. The Dutchmen were also 13-9, 14-9, 15-9 and 16-9 this season for the first time since 2021-22. That is quirky too! Here is how some notable Hofstra teams have fared through 26 games:
NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1975-76: 15-11 (win in 26th game marked third win of six-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1976-77: 20-6 (win in 26th game marked sixth win of nine-game winning streak that carried Dutchmen into the NCAAs)
1999-2000: 20-6 (the 67-64 win over Maine in 26th game locked up the no. 1 seed in the America East tournament, most recent 20-6 start)
2000-01: 22-4 (win in 26th game marked 14th win in program-record, single-season 18-game winning streak)
2019-20 (IT COUNTS TO US): 19-7 (most recent 19-7 start, win in 26th game was fifth win of eight-game winning streak)
NIT TEAMS
1998-99: 18-8
2004-05: 19-7 (win in 26th game was fifth win of seven-game winning streak)
2005-06: 21-5 (most recent 21-5 start)
2006-07: 19-7
2015-16: 18-8
2018-19: 22-4 (most recent 22-4 start)
2022-23: 18-8 (most recent 18-8 start, win in 26th game marked sixth win of 12-game winning streak that continued into the CAA Tournament)
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1958-59: 20-6 (win in 2nd round of NCAAs was final win of season)
1961-62: 23-3 (won Middle Atlantic Championship with win in 26th game, best 26-game record in school history)
1962-63: 20-6 (win in regular season finale was ninth win of 11-game winning streak)
1963-64: 21-5
Some other notable 26-game records:
2024-25: 12-14 (most recent 12-14 start, loss in 26th game marked fourth loss of Speedy Claxton-era record six-game losing streak)
2023-24: 15-11 (most recent 15-11 start0
2014-15: 16-10 (most recent 16-10 start)
2013-14: 8-18 (most recent 8-18 start, Joe Mihalich’s first team)
2012-13: 6-20 (most recent 6-20 start, tied for worst 26-game record in school history)
2009-10: 13-13 (most recent 13-13 start)
2007-08: 10-16 (most recent 10-16 start)
2002-03: 7-19 (only 7-19 start)
2001-02: 10-16 (loss in 26th game marked fifth loss of Tom Pecora-era record-tying eight-game losing streak)
1996-97: 12-14 (final win of season)
1995-96: 9-17 (most recent 9-17 start, final win of season)
1994-95: 9-17 (won regular season finale, Jay Wright’s first year)
1993-94: 6-20 (loss to ECC foe Northeastern Illinois in regular season finale, VBK’s last year)
1992-93: 9-17 (final win of season)
1991-92: 18-8 (win in 26th game was seventh in nine-game winning streak that ended in ECC title game)
1990-91: 14-12 (most recent 14-12 start, final win of season)
1987-88: 6-20 (lost regular season finale)
1986-87: 10-16 (final win of season)
1982-83: 18-8 (lost regular season finale)
1981-82: 11-15 (loss in regular season finale was final loss of eight-game losing streak)
1980-81: 12-14 (lost regular season finale)
1978-79: 8-18 (fourth loss of season-ending five-game losing streak)
1970-71: 18-8 (win in season finale completed season-ending five-game winning streak)
1969-70: 13-13 (won season finale)
1965-66: 16-10 (lost season finale)
1956-57: 11-15 (lost season finale)
1955-56: 22-4 (final win of season)
1954-55: 19-7 (lost season finale)
1950-51: 16-10 (fourth win of six-game winning streak)
1949-50: 17-9 (won season finale)
1948-49: 18-8 (won season finale)
Hofstra has never been 26-0, 25-1, 24-2, 5-21, 4-22, 3-23, 2-24, 1-25 or 0-26 through 26 games.
Twenty-four seasons were completed in fewer than 26 games:
1936-37 (10-7)
1937-38 (10-4)
1938-39 (10-8)
1939-40 (12-9)
1940-41 (13-7)
1941-42 (15-6)
1942-43 (15-6)
1943-44 (7-12)
1944-45 (8-13)
1945-46 (12-7)
1947-48 (13-6)
1953-54 (15-9)
1957-58 (15-8)
1959-60 (23-1)
1960-61 (21-4)
1964-65 (11-14)
1966-67 (12-13)
1967-68 (13-12)
1968-69 (12-13)
1971-72 (11-14)
1972-73 (8-16)
1973-74 (8-16)
1974-75 (11-13)
2020-21 (13-10)
Full records not available for the following seasons: 1936-37, 1941-42, 1942-43.
This feature is inspired by Greg Prince, who measures how the current Mets compare, record-wise, to previous teams through the same point in the season.
NUMBER TEN THROUGH ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINE
With Saturday afternoon’s win, Speedy Claxton improved to 98-61 (.616) as head coach. That’s tied for the third-best known winning percentage for a Hofstra coach through his first 159 games at the helm.
Butch van Breda Kolff I 119-40 (.748, 159th game was the eighth game of his seventh season in 1961-62)
Frank Reilly 114-45 (.717, 159th game was the third game of his seventh season in 1953-54)
SPEEDY CLAXTON 98-61 (.616, 159th game was the 26th game of his fifth season in 2025-26)
Paul Lynner 97-62 (.610, 159th game was the 24th game of his sixth season in 1967-68)
Joe Mihalich 84-75 (.528, 159th game was the 26th game of his fifth season in 2017-18)
Tom Pecora 84-75 (.528, 159th game was the sixth game of his sixth season in 2006-07)
Dick Berg 81-78 (.509, 159th game was the 20th game of his sixth season in 1985-86)
Jay Wright 81-78 (.509, 159th game was the 14th game of his fifth season in 1998-99)
Roger Gaeckler 76-83 (.478, 159th game was the 27th and final game of his sixth season in 1977-78)
Butch van Breda Kolff II 72-87 (.453, 159th game was the 18th game of his sixth season in 1993-94)
IT HAS HAPPENED! Speedy Claxton moves into sole possession of third place as the 1967-68 Flying Dutchmen fall in Paul Lynner’s 159th game at the helm. If my research is correct, this is the first time Claxton has held sole possession of third place since he resided there following his 112th game as head coach, an 80-67 win over Norfolk State on Dec. 9, 2024. Wow! Spanning three years! Another tie is created as Tom Pecora and Joe Mihalich are sharing fifth place after Pecora wins his 159th game on the Hofstra sidelines and Mihalich drops his 159th game at the helm. Dick Berg and Jay Wright remain tied for seventh with wins in their 159th games while 1977-78 team’s pursuit of a third straight ECC title and NCAA Tournament bid under Roger Gaeckler ends with a 97-77 loss to American in the season finale. And Butch van Breda Kolff’s final team bottoms out at 2-16 with an 84-75 loss to imminent conference foe Boston University on Feb. 1, 1994 — or the first game of my second semester on campus. Boy am I old.
The records are incomplete for Jack McDonald’s first stint from 1936 through 1943 as well as the tenure of Jack Smith (1943-46).
Smith finished 27-32 in his three seasons while Mo Cassara finished 38-59 in his three seasons. Three coaches had one-season tenures lasting at Hofstra. McDonald went 18-6 in the lone season of his second stint in 1946-47 while Joe Harrington went 14-14 in 1979-80 and Mike Farrelly went 13-10 in 2020-21.
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